Jobs Available at the League

Director, Learning and Leadership Programs

For more than 75 years, the League of American Orchestras has led, supported, and championed America’s orchestras and the vitality of the music they perform. The only national organization dedicated solely to furthering the orchestral experience, the League is committed to furthering field innovation and learning, as a response to socio-demographic, technological and cultural change.

Today, the League’s serves a diverse membership of more than 2,000 organizations and individuals across North America, from world-renowned orchestras to community groups, from summer festivals to conservatories, and youth ensembles. Thanks to the League, these organizations – and the managers, artists, trustees and volunteers who work with them – convene at conferences and events; are inspired by the award-winning Symphony magazine; and benefit from vital industry reports, leadership programs and grant opportunities.

The League’s committed staff works to serve its members with exemplary programs, publications and events, supported by a clear mission, an established reputation and support base, and an active board. Major investments in new technologies and office space, as well as in organizational development work around equity, diversity and inclusion, are laying the foundations for ensuring that the current momentum and opportunity for innovation continues to expand into the future.

Position Outline

The position is one of two Directors of Learning and Leadership Programs, reporting to the Vice President of Knowledge, Learning and Leadership (Karen Yair) and responsible for the supervision of one direct report. It operates as part of the nine-person Knowledge, Learning and Leadership team.

This Director leads the delivery of the League’s two flagship regranting programs: The American Orchestras’ Futures Fund and The Catalyst Fund. Leadership of these two pioneering programs offers a unique opportunity to support the evolution of orchestras as they innovate and engage ever more meaningfully with the diverse communities they serve.

This is a position with national visibility and networking potential, offering the opportunity to shape a significant and highly impactful portfolio of programmatic work.

Primary Responsibilities:

Manage all aspects of the League’s regranting programs, including the following:

Develop and implement annual operating plans including budgets, timelines, announcements, reporting, convenings, and evaluations.
Recruit adjudication panel, and lead panel processes.
Maintain a high degree of familiarity with funded projects.
Lead annual evaluation processes and manage relationship with evaluators.
Recommend adjustments to program design and delivery as needed.
Maintain and promote high standards of member stewardship, building ongoing relationships with applicants and grantees.

Oversee the development and delivery of regranting program dissemination activities (with support from the Manager, Learning and Leadership Programs), to include the following:

Grantee cohort-building and peer learning activities, such as virtual and in-person convenings, and online forums.
Field-wide learning opportunities, such as Conference sessions, webinars, and Symphony magazine articles.

Promote organizational learning, ensuring that the League’s own understanding of the field is informed by new knowledge emerging from its regranting programs.
Contribute to cross-organizational work including the League’s National Conference and Mid Winter Managers’ Meeting.
Collaborate with Development department to anticipate and proactively support donor relations and reporting activities associated with the regranting programs.
Collaborate with Communications department to optimize the profile of the regranting programs, and to grow the pool of high caliber applicants.
Supervise and coach one direct report (Manager, Learning and Leadership Programs).

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties assigned.

Qualifications:

Strong candidates will demonstrate a commitment to the ongoing learning involved in progressing equity, diversity and inclusion work, and insight into the challenges involved. They will also demonstrate expertise in adult learning, peer learning, organizational innovation and capacity building, or non-profit arts management: performing arts / music / orchestra experience is highly desirable but is not a requirement.

Strong candidates will have 5+ years‘ progressive experience in non-profit program management, and a proven track record in successful program development and delivery. They will demonstrate strengths in problem solving and in strategic and analytical thinking, and their capacity for innovation will be coupled with sound judgment and decision-making capabilities, and a strong aptitude for cross-organizational working.

Candidates should also display exemplary project management and people management capabilities, coupled with the ability to balance multiple programmatic and organizational demands: they should have a strong track record of seeing complex projects through to completion. Candidates will be equipped with the necessary expertise to act as a specialist advisor to their supervisor. Their work history should demonstrate their initiative and team orientation, as well as their excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Salary:

Please contact Karen Yair (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) for an informal discussion.

Recruitment Process:

Please email your resume and a cover letter stating salary expectations to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please also include up to three writing samples. Your application materials must clearly demonstrate how your experience, knowledge and skills qualify you for the position as outlined above.

Recruitment Timetable:

-May 1st 2019 (9am Eastern): closing date for applications.

-May 3rd 2019: first round interviews

-May 8th / 9th / 10th 2019: second round interviews.

Anticipated Start Date: negotiable.

Job Location: League offices, Manhattan.

The League of American Orchestras is committed to furthering equity, diversity and inclusion: please refer to our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Framework and organizational attributes.

Download the PDF of the Job Description here.